Bad news for Pitt: No snow, no rain, no bitter cold

November 29, 2013by Jerry DiPaola

Bad news for Pitt on Saturday — the newly resodded turf at Heinz Field is dry, and temperatures are in the 30s.
If any Miami players find it difficult to endure what is normal weather for November — in any venue, north of Florida — the Hurricanes are in real trouble.
Actually, Pitt’s in the most trouble, with the left side of its offensive line — Adam Bisnowaty and Cory King (back injuries) — and wide receiver Devin Street (elbow and ankle) not expected to play on Senior Day. Street would give Pitt a speed element to counteract Miami’s athleticism, which isn’t just at wide receiver. Plus, he’s a senior and a team leader.
I try not to tell Paul Chryst how to run his program — he doesn’t tell me how or what I should write — but if I’m Pitt’s coach, I let Street get up in front of his teammates for a pregame, Rockne-type speech. I’d like to have video of that.
Pitt will need an exceptional effort to win, but expect a close game. Every Pitt game since New Mexico — that’s nine in a row — has been decided by 11 points or fewer. Five were one-possession differences, and Pitt is 3-2 in those games.